Page 27 of Heart of the Deep

Larkin glanced over her shoulder. “See you on the other side, Dad.”

“Damn right you will, Elle.”

The line sagged when she pulled herself forward, and Larkin’s stomach twisted into a knot. She squeezed the line with her thighs as she swung upside down. The thrashing water was less than a meter beneath her, its impenetrable black highlighted by the hellish glow of the burning ship. The roar of the waves was deafening.

She pulled herself along the rope, hand-over-hand, as harsh winds and angry waves competed to see which would break the pathetic little human’s hold first. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face away from the leaping water. An eternity passed in the span of a few seconds, but she kept moving.

Shewouldmake it to the other boat.

The roiling ocean swelled again, forcing the two ships closer together.

Larkin clung to the rope as she plummeted into the chilly water. She kicked to the surface, disoriented and sputtering, and swung her gaze to the first thing that caught her attention — the burning ship.

Gunshots sounded over the cacophony, and her heart stuck in her throat. A dark figure hurtled over the railing, tentacles trailing in the air as it came toward her. She caught a hint of crimson skin just before the figure slammed into her.

The immense weight forced her underwater and broke her hold on the rope.

The human male beside the commander writhed on the deck. His hands could not stem the flow of blood from his shredded abdomen; he’d taken the brunt of Neo’s charge toward the commander.

Dracchus didn’t know if Neo had been hit or not. The commander had drawn a gun from his belt and fired several quick shots. It hadn’t been enough to drop the kraken, but it had forced Neo to dive over the side and into the sea below.

Now the commander leaned over the railing, aiming his weapon at something in the water, the cords on his neck standing out as he shouted.

Vasil moved forward.

Dracchus caught him by the shoulder, forcing him to turn. “Get to safety.” He gestured to the opposite side of the boat. “Return home and warn our humans that Neo is a threat.”

Vasil’s muscles tensed under Dracchus’s palm. He glanced at the commander. “Ending him will protect our people, Dracchus.”

“I will deal with him. You have witnessed much, and you will tell our people the tale without bias. That is your role. Now go. Dive deep and swim quickly.”

With a nod, Vasil darted to the railing and dove over.

“Larkin!” the Commander’s voice rose over the roaring fire, wind, and sea.

Dracchus’s hearts pounded. Was Larkin in the water when Neo leapt down?

He rushed across the deck, reaching the commander as the human was climbing over the side. Dracchus caught the back of the human’s shirt and dragged him back. The commander’s legs slipped out from beneath him, but Dracchus didn’t allow the man to fall. Dracchus reached forward and closed his free hand over the pistol, tearing it from the human’s grasp. He threw the weapon into the flames.

“Let me go, you son of a bitch!” the commander yelled, struggling to free himself. “My daughter’s down there!”

Dracchus shook him hard, stunning the human. “Your daughter isminenow. That is the price for your life.” He thrust the commander away.

The man’s cry of rage and anguish was cut off as he tumbled over the wood planks.

Dracchus turned and vaulted over the railing, dropping into the water.

The sea was chaos — waves thrust upward like jabbing spears and fell again with equal force, crashing into one another and pulling away. The sound was overwhelming. The light of the fire barely penetrated the water’s surface, but it was enough to illuminate the tangled shapes of Neo and Larkin.

Neo held Larkin underwater, hands wrapped around her throat and skin pulsing crimson. Larkin clutched his forearms and kicked wildly, but her blows had little effect; she couldn’t match his strength.

Wisps of blood streamed from several small cuts on Larkin’s arms and face, mingling with more from unseen wounds on Neo’s body. The clouds dissipated casually, unconcerned with what was going on nearby.

Larkin’s struggles weakened. Bubbles flowed from her mouth; she was running out of air.

Though she was an enemy, though she was human, Larkin washis.

Dracchus surged forward. He directed all his momentum into a single blow, slamming his fist into Neo’s jaw.

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